Aureon turned sixteen on a day that felt particularly bleak. The makeshift shelter behind the fabric shop offered little protection against the biting wind that heralded the coming of a harsh winter. The landlord, a portly man with a perpetually sour expression, had finally run out of patience with their inability to pay the meager rent he demanded. They had been evicted, their few belongings bundled into a tattered sack, their faces etched with a familiar sense of loss.
They found temporary refuge in the skeletal remains of an abandoned building on the outskirts of the city, a place where the wind howled through broken windows and the only company was the scurrying of rats. It was worse than the alley, colder and more exposed, but for now, it was all they had.
The harsh conditions took their toll quickly. Elleaner, who had always been more susceptible to illness, developed a racking cough that left her weak and feverish. Her face was flushed, her breathing shallow, and her usual bright eyes were clouded with pain. Aureon watched her with a growing sense of panic. They had faced hardship before, but this felt different, more serious.
He had no money for medicine, no way to get her proper care. The city hospitals were a distant dream, their bills an insurmountable obstacle. Despair began to gnaw at him, a familiar but unwelcome companion. He felt helpless, the one person he had sworn to protect slipping away before his very eyes.
He sat beside her on the cold, damp floor, holding her hand, his brow furrowed with worry. He spoke to her in soft whispers, trying to offer comfort, but his own heart was heavy with fear. He was going crazy, watching her fade, feeling utterly powerless to help.
It was in that moment of utter desperation, as the biting wind howled through the broken panes of glass and Elleaner's feverish body trembled in his arms, that something extraordinary happened.
A flicker of light caught the corner of his eye. He looked up, startled, scanning the dilapidated room. There was no discernible source, yet a faint, ethereal glow seemed to emanate from the very air around him. Then, a voice, clear and resonant, echoed not in his ears, but directly within his mind.
[Primary Beneficiary Detected: Aureon Emil. Commencing System Activation.]
A holographic screen, shimmering with intricate symbols and data streams, materialized before his eyes. It was unlike anything he had ever seen, a futuristic interface superimposed over the grim reality of their surroundings.
Aureon stared, his mind reeling. Was he hallucinating? Was the stress finally getting to him? But the display was too vivid, too real to be a figment of his imagination.
Another message flashed across the screen:
[Urgent Quest Initiated: "A Dying Flame"]
* Objective: Secure medical attention for the System's Second Beneficiary, Elleaner Aya Zahreli, within the next 24 hours.
* Reward: 500 Galactic Credits (GC), Basic Medical Knowledge Module, Minor Stamina Boost (Temporary).
[Additional Notice: Primary Beneficiary's success is crucial for the activation and growth of the System's full potential. Failure to secure the Second Beneficiary's well-being will result in significant penalties.]
A surge of adrenaline coursed through Aureon. He didn't understand what this "system" was, or where it came from, but the urgent quest, the promise of Galactic Credits and medical knowledge – it was a lifeline in his moment of despair. He looked down at Elleaner, her face pale and fragile. This was his chance, their chance. He had to act, and he had to act fast.
Unseen by Aureon, as the "Absolute God Tycoon System" activated for him, a faint, golden shimmer briefly enveloped Elleaner. Within her, something stirred, a dormant power waiting for the right moment to awaken. The "Goddess Tycoon System," linked inextricably to Aureon's, remained in slumber, its activation a matter of time, a consequence of Aureon's progress.
For now, Aureon's focus was singular: save Elleaner. The system had offered him a path, a glimmer of hope in the encroaching darkness. He would seize it with both hands, with the ruthlessness born of years of survival and the fierce love that bound him to the girl shivering in his arms. The rise of an empire was still a distant dream, but the first step, the most crucial one, had just been revealed.
Aureon's mind raced, trying to process the sudden and unbelievable turn of events. A holographic screen, galactic credits, medical knowledge – it was like something out of the fantastical stories he sometimes overheard in the market. But Elleaner's shallow breaths and feverish skin were stark reminders of the urgency of their situation. He couldn't afford to doubt; he had to act.
His gaze snapped back to the holographic display. He focused on the promised rewards. Five hundred Galactic Credits – what could that even buy? He had no concept of this currency, only the small, worn coins he had painstakingly earned over the years. And a "Basic Medical Knowledge Module" – what did that entail?
Instinctively, he reached out a trembling hand towards the shimmering screen. His fingers passed right through it. He frowned, then tried to focus his thoughts, remembering the voice that had spoken in his mind.
System… show me my inventory? he thought, concentrating with all his might.
The holographic display flickered, and a new panel appeared, listing:
[Inventory:]
* Galactic Credits: 500 GCr
* Basic Medical Knowledge Module: Available for Download
Aureon's eyes widened. It had worked! He had no idea how, but the credits were there, a digital number that held the promise of help. But how did he access them in the real world? And what about this "Medical Knowledge Module"?
System… how do I use the Galactic Credits? he thought urgently. And how do I download the Medical Knowledge?
The system responded almost instantly:
[Galactic Credits can be accessed through your System Interface. To authorize a transaction, simply visualize the amount and the intended recipient or service. Please note: Acceptance of Galactic Credits may vary depending on the location and level of technological advancement.]
[To download the Basic Medical Knowledge Module, focus your intent on the item in your Inventory. The information will be directly transferred to your neural pathways.]
Aureon's heart pounded. Visualize? Neural pathways? This was far beyond anything he could have imagined. But he had no other options. He focused his intent on the "Basic Medical Knowledge Module" in his inventory, picturing himself absorbing the information.
A strange sensation washed over him, a rush of data flooding his mind. Images of human anatomy, common illnesses and their symptoms, basic first aid procedures, and the locations of various medical facilities within a certain radius of their current location flashed through his consciousness. It was overwhelming but incredibly useful. He now knew, with startling clarity, that Elleaner's symptoms pointed towards a severe respiratory infection, likely pneumonia, made worse by their exposure and malnutrition. He also saw a map, highlighting several clinics and hospitals, their distances varying greatly.
Five hundred Galactic Credits… he needed to figure out how to use them. He focused on the number, willing it to become tangible. Nothing happened. He then pictured a kind doctor, a warm bed for Elleaner, and the credits flowing towards them. Still nothing.
The system's warning about the acceptance of Galactic Credits echoed in his mind. He was in an abandoned building on the outskirts of a city that likely operated on a more traditional currency. He couldn't just walk into a hospital and expect them to accept these… digital credits.
Frustration began to build, threatening to overwhelm his hope. The system had given him a lifeline, but it felt just out of reach. He looked at the map the medical module had provided, his gaze settling on a clinic that was marked as being relatively close. It was in a poorer district of the city, but it was a real medical facility.
System… can I convert these Galactic Credits into local currency? he thought, his desperation growing.
[Conversion of Galactic Credits to local currency may be possible through authorized exchange centers or individuals. Availability and exchange rates may vary. Please consult your System Interface for potential options in your current location.]
He focused on the System Interface again, searching for any mention of exchange options. A new tab appeared: [Currency Exchange (Limited Options Available)]. He opened it, his heart pounding with anticipation. The screen displayed a single, almost mocking option: [Local Broker (Unverified - High Risk): Offers exchange at a significantly reduced rate.]
Aureon's jaw clenched. High risk and a reduced rate – it sounded like he would lose a significant portion of the already limited credits. But he was running out of time. Elleaner was getting weaker with every passing moment.
He had to take a chance.